Drumke, Michael W.	Partner
Office: Chicago Phone: 312-205-7717 Email: mwd@heplerbroom.com Licenses: IL/MO/TX/WI Recognized by: Leading Lawyers Network, Super Lawyers Practice Description: Mr. Drumke focuses his practice on trials involving complex business litigation matters, including:   • Toxic Torts   • Product Liability   • Class Actions   • Commercial Litigation Mr. Drumke has represented clients in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Texas, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Alabama, Washington, Oregon, California, Mississippi, Massachusetts, Louisiana and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He serves as national counsel for a manufacturer defendant named in asbestos-related litigation across the country. He also serves as lead counsel for several premises owners named in toxic tort litigation in the Midwest. Bar Admissions: Illinois Missouri Texas Wisconsin U.S. Supreme Court U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (including Trial Bar) U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana U.S. District Court for the Western District Court of Michigan U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin Date of Birth: March 29, 1966 Law School: University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., 1991 Law School Honors/Involvement: Member and Senior Administrative Editor, Wisconsin Law Review Undergraduate School: Tufts University, B.A., cum laude, 1988 Bar/Professional Association Involvement: American Bar Association     Standing Committee on Silver Gavel Awards     Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section       Member, Governing Council       Past Section Revenue Officer       Past Chair, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Board       Past Chair, Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Committee     Section of Litigation     Section of Environmental Energy and Resources Illinois State Bar Association State Bar of Texas State Bar of Wisconsin Defense Research Institute Awards, Honors, Distinctions: Member Leading Lawyers Network (Class Actions/Mass Tort Defense Law, Products Liability Defense Law and Toxic Torts Defense Law) Illinois Super Lawyers (Class Action/Mass Torts) Law and Public Service Honor Roll, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch,” Chicago Lawyer and Chicago Daily Law Bulletin Fellow, American Bar Foundation AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell Community Involvement: American Brain Tumor Association   Board of Directors Recent Verdicts Eske v. Fleming Materials Co., et al., Milwaukee Cty., WI Cir. Ct. No. 07-cv-10206 (May 5, 2010) Willis v. 84 Lumber Co., et al., Sangamon Cty., IL Cir Ct. No. 07-L-0327 (August 13, 2009) Dancho v. Georgia-Pacific LLC, Cook Cty., IL Cir. Ct. No. 05 L 5620 (May 15, 2008) Published Legal Writing: “A HIPAA Primer,” 37 The Brief 3 (Spring 2008) “Recent Developments in Toxic Tort and Environmental Law,” (Co-author) 40 Tort & Insurance Law Journal 810 (2005) “Declaratory Relief,” (Co-author) Illinois Civil Practice, Vol. II, Ch. 5, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (1997 & Supplement 2000) “Recent Developments in Toxic Tort Law,” (Co-author) 33 Tort & Insurance Law Journal 711 (Winter 1998) “Recent Developments in Toxic Tort Law,” (Co-author) 32 Tort & Insurance Law Journal 635 (Winter 1997) Legal Lectures: Moderator and Panelist: “Some Like It Hot: Emerging Issues in Toxic Tort and Environmental Law,” Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association, Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Committee’s Nineteenth Annual Spring CLE Meeting (Phoenix, AZ, April 2010) Program Co-Chair: “The Future of Class Action Litigation in America,” Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association (Washington DC, October 2007). Speaker: “Staff Counsel: The Changing Litigation Environment," American Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association, Staff Counsel Committee Meeting (Philadelphia, September 2006). Speaker: “Hot Topics in Toxic Tort and Environmental Law,” American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (Honolulu, August 2006). Program Co-Chair: “The Future of Class Action Litigation in America,” Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association (Washington DC, November 2005). Panelist: “Toxic Tort and Environmental Law Round Up: Preparing for Litigation Beyond the Asbestos Horizon,” Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association, Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Committee’s Thirteenth Annual Spring CLE Meeting (Phoenix, March 2004). Program Co-Chair: “The Future of Class Action Litigation in America,” Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association (Boston, October 2003). Program Co-Chair: “Mealey’s Practical Skills Series: “Toxic Tort Litigation,” Mealey’s Publications and Conferences Group (Philadelphia, September 2003). Program Chair: “The Future of Mass Tort Litigation in America,” Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association, Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Committee’s 11th Annual Spring CLE Meeting (Phoenix, March 2002). Program Chair: “Tort Reform in the New Millennium,” American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (Chicago, August 2001). Speaker: “Hot Topics in Environmental Law,” American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Section of Energy, Environment and Resources (New York, July 2000). Program Chair: “The Method to the Madness: Understanding the ‘Scientific Method’ and ‘Peer Review’ under Daubert and Kelly Frye,” Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association, Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Committee’s 8th Annual Spring CLE Meeting (La Jolla, March 1999). Speaker: “Class Actions and Mass Torts – History and Recent Developments,” Midwest Environmental Claims Association Fifth Annual Seminar (Chicago, September 1997). Speaker: “Hot Topics in Environmental Law,” American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Section of Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law (San Francisco, August 1997). Printable Version Click here to return to the employee profiles front page.